🏅 A spring treat for athletics fans the Comeback 5000 returns to Battersea Park for an evening of 5K action on Friday 23 May. Spectating is free!
It’s official. Comeback 5000 is all set for a 2025 edition under the lights at Battersea Park Millennium Arena. Save the date and stay tuned for more news on what promises to be the biggest and best Comeback 5000 so far.
2024 RECAP
Last year’s action at Comeback 5000 did not disappoint. 5 open races were followed by an invitational 800m men’s race. BUCS indoor champion Jacob Smith stormed through with 150 metres to go to take the win in a time of 1:49.69.
In the elite women’s 5000m race Kate Axford – the defending Comeback 5000 champion – Jenny Nesbitt and Georgia Bell broke clear from the pack at halfway. With two laps to go, Georgia Bell (pictured below No.240) slowly but surely turned the screw to win in a time of 15:35.24. Kate Axford was second in 15:38.82 (completing a Belgrave Harriers 1-2). Jenny Nesbitt came home in third place in 15:45.69.
The elite men’s 5000m race saw Rory Leonard (main picture above, tracking his teammate and pacemaker for the night Scott Beattie) put in a superb front-running performance. Leonard took the win in a meeting record and personal best time of 13:29.54. Leonard was chased home by James Gorley (13:42.28). Ellis Cross (13:43.95) completed the podium places.
Check out the Graham Smith Photography website here for a full gallery of pictures capturing a memorable night of athletics at Battersea Park.
Photos: Graham Smith
2025 EVENT
This year’s Comeback 5000 is sure to feature an action-packed night of racing. The meeting is organised by Lloyd Kempson and Steve Gardner and hosted by Belgrave Harriers. Taking place at Battersea Park Millennium Arena it has a track record of featuring some of Great Britain’s top runners.
Twelve and a half laps of the track is the 5K distance that parkrun has made familiar to many. Comeback 5000 is a great opportunity to get up close up and personal with elite athletes as they take on the distance in the capital.
Based on the 2024 event, racing will start around 6pm with graded open races for club runners. It will conclude with men’s and women’s elite races – a total of seven races in all, seeded by PB and getting progressively faster. Serious bragging rights are at stake in the men’s and women’s elite races, not to mention potential qualification times for world-class events later in the year.
With music, beers and a festival vibe to accompany the action, the Battersea Park Millennium Arena is the place to be for the 2025 Comeback 5000 and what promises to be a memorable evening of top-class athletics.
TICKETS, TIMINGS & TRAVEL
🎟️ Spectating at the Comeback 5000 is free.
🕒 Full race *timetable as follow:
Race 1 at 6.15 pm ~ Race 2 at 6.40pm ~ Race 3 at 7.03pm ~ Race 4 at 7.26pm ~ Race 5 at 7.48pm
Invitational Men’s 800m at 8.10pm.
Elite Women’s race at 8.20pm.
Elite Men’s race at 8.45pm.
Note: Timings based on 2024 and subject to confirmation.
🚊🚗 Travel tips: Travel by public transport is recommended. The nearest station to the track is Battersea Park railway station a couple of minutes walk from the park. Trains from London Waterloo and Clapham Junction stop at Battersea Park station. Battersea Power tube station, on the Northern Line, is a 5 minute walk away. The 156 and 344 buses also stop very near to the park. Plan your journey using the Transport for London website. On-street parking is available in roads surrounding the park but note local parking restrictions apply.
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